Chapter 11: Even a Wealthy Lady Can’t Afford These

“What’s wrong?” Bi Qiao’an asked worriedly, her gaze settling on Shen Yanming’s stormy expression. 

“Nothing,” he muttered and forced out a smile. “I’ll just send you even more and better gifts from now on.”

“Intention matters most, not presents,” Bi Qiao’an replied with a faint smile as she sensed his underlying turmoil.

Shen Yanming opened his luggage and laid out the contents one by one. 

“Here are two sets of skincare products I bought after overhearing a female supervisor recommend the brands. Unsure which worked better, I got both. These cosmetics were recommended by the salesgirl who helped me with the skincare. Try them out and see if you like them.”

He placed twelve bottles of Dior Enchantment Series perfume on the bed. “I sampled them all, and they seemed nice. Pick your favorite, and I’ll buy you more next time.”  

He continued, “Here are some dresses I picked for you, and red wine, though I could only fit three bottles due to limited space. Let me know if you enjoy them, and I’ll arrange for more.”

“One more thing,” he added, retrieving a handbag. “The salesperson said it’s a limited edition.”

Bi Qiao’an stood stunned as the sheer volume of gifts overwhelmed her.

“Brother Yanming, this is too much! One item would’ve been more than enough.” 

“It’s not much at all! There’s more!” He proceeded to open the second suitcase. After removing some clothes, it revealed rows of small gift boxes.

“These are all the jewelry I found for you. Take a look and see if you like them.”  

Crouching down, Bi Qiao’an peeked inside each box and carefully arranged them on the bed. A wave of dizziness washed over her.  

Necklaces, bangles, rings, hairpins—all adorned with diamonds, gold, pearls, and jade. The sheer opulence left her speechless.

“Big bro, did you have a fever? Why’d you buy so much jewelry all of a sudden?” she finally asked, her voice trembling.

“Do you like them? I wanted to get more, but I wasn’t sure you’d like it. We can go choose more together next time!”

Bi Qiao’an frantically waved her hands in refusal. “No way, it’s too expensive! I could never afford to repay you, even if I sold myself…”

Bi Qiao’an’s response stemmed from her upbringing. She had enjoyed a comfortable life, as her family and Shen Yanming’s resided in the upscale Zijing Villa Community. Their families were close neighbors and shared a warm bond. 

Tragedy struck when Shen Yanming was twenty. His father passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack during a business trip. Unable to bear the loss, his mother, Auntie Su, wanted to sell their shares in the Shen Group.

Shen Yanming had always been smart since he was a child. He skipped several grades and completed university by twenty. He originally planned postgraduate studies overseas, but his father’s death prompted him to join the company’s board of directors instead, as he was determined to protect his father’s legacy.

Since Shen Yanming disliked strangers in his home, they decided not to hire nannies and would only occasionally hire an “Aunt” for cleaning when he was away. 

Consumed by work and frequent business trips, he worried about his mother being alone. Bi Qiao’an’s mother then suggested having Auntie Su move in, but she declined, finding the idea of living with others inconvenient.

After discussions, both families agreed to purchase adjacent apartments in the newly developed Qingyu Community, ensuring they remained close. Accustomed to spacious living, they opted for 240 sq. m units, allowing Auntie Su to join the Bi family for meals while maintaining her own space. This arrangement also allowed them to easily assist each other if needed.

The two families lived harmoniously for four years until Shen Yanming went overseas again for company expansion. That same year, likely influenced by his subtle guidance, Bi Qiao’an, a mere sixteen, excelled in her exams and secured admission to Qinghai University, much to her parents’ delight. 

Ecstatic about their daughter’s achievement, Bi Qiao’an’s parents decided to travel abroad with Auntie Su, who hadn’t seen her son in months. Europa was their destination.  

Shen Yanming’s work commitments allowed him to only join them on the first and last days, flitting in and out like the wind despite his busy schedule.

Due to domestic business obligations, Bi Qiao’an’s parents had booked early return tickets. However, seeing Auntie Su’s reluctance to part with her son, Bi’s father offered to have Bi Qiao’an keep Auntie Su company for an extended stay in Europa, allowing the schoolgirl to return home closer to the start of the term.

Disaster struck without warning. The flight carrying Bi Qiao’an’s parents met a tragic end in a fatal crash—an unimaginable event for the supposedly safest mode of transport. 

The news plunged Bi Qiao’an into darkness. Overnight, the sixteen-year-old girl was orphaned, left utterly alone in the world.

Auntie Su, consumed by guilt, blamed herself incessantly. She believed that if she hadn’t wanted to see her son, Bi’s parents wouldn’t have come to Europa, and the accident wouldn’t have happened.  

However, Bi Qiao’an held no resentment towards Auntie Su. Witnessing her daily torment, even surpassing her own grief, filled Bi Qiao’an with immense sorrow.

Shen Yanming took emergency leave and rushed back to take care of Bi Qiao’an and his mother, as well as assisting Bi Qiao’an with her parents’ funeral arrangements. With Bi Qiao’an’s approval, they sold her father’s small company for a substantial sum. Additionally, selling off the inherited Zijing Villa and their vehicles yielded over fifty million RMB, placed in a trust fund under her name.

With that money, even if Bi Qiao’an did nothing for the rest of her life, she could live comfortably. 

Shen Yanming remained a constant presence by her side, his heart aching as the once-vibrant girl he knew dwindled into a silent, hollow shell. He couldn’t bear the thought of her losing the light in her eyes. Determined to protect her, he decided to stay to be by her side.

Tears streamed down Bi Qiao’an’s face as she insisted she didn’t want to hold him back. Now on the cusp of adulthood, she was determined to be self-sufficient and believed dorm life at university would offer new social connections and a potential distraction from her grief. She reiterated her own promises, assuring him of her gradual recovery. 

Following this tearful exchange, Shen Yanming embraced Bi Qiao’an tightly. A silent plan formed within him—he would grant himself four more years to fulfill his promise to his mother and offer Bi Qiao’an the companionship she needed upon his return.

The mantle of caring for Bi Qiao’an fell solely on Shen Yanming’s mother. However, guilt gnawed at Auntie Su, and her health deteriorated rapidly. A year later, she too passed away. Her final words expressed a life lived without major transgressions, except for the unwavering remorse of failing Bi Qiao’an. With her last breaths, she implored her son to fulfill his promise and safeguard Bi Qiao’an’s future.

With tears choking her voice, Bi Qiao’an insisted that no one was to blame, pointing out that if it weren’t for Aunt Su’s reluctance to return early, she might have lost her life too.

Shen Yanming returned home to spend his mother’s final ten days by her side. After her serene passing, Bi Qiao’an noticed a change in him. He became withdrawn. Days blurred as he remained wrapped in his thoughts.  

Once the funeral arrangements were complete, Shen Yanming left with a final promise, his voice hollow as he said, “If you need anything at all, Bi Qiao’an, call me. I’ll come back, no question.”

Perhaps he still lingered amidst the grief of losing his mother. Regardless, an icy demeanor now enveloped him, causing a slight fear in Bi Qiao’an. She couldn’t help but worry that he secretly blamed her.

The past stretched out like a tangled web, its threads tracing back to an innocent misstep where assigning blame seemed futile. Though no malicious intent existed, a series of choices had woven them into these frustrating circumstances.  

Years flowed by. Shen Yanming and Bi Qiao’an led separate lives, and their paths connected only by the occasional, echoing chimes of holiday phone calls. Amidst the relentless demands of his career, Shen Yanming sometimes found himself drawn to his memories and wondered how the once-bright girl he knew had fared. 

An unseen force seemed to keep him from returning home. Each time a homecoming appeared imminent, an unexpected project would arise that derailed his plans. Thus, three years slipped by in this way, until the KM deal finally opened a window. Yet, upon his long-awaited return, what he saw was not Bi Qiao’an alone, but with Xiao Fei by her side.

This time, however, fate took an unexpected turn, marking a fresh divergence in their lives.

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Author’s Note:

Heh, after all that, I just wanted to express that even though Bi Qiaoan is a wealthy lady, she still can’t afford the jewelry Shen Yanming bought for her!